Light1y and gracefu11y he went through his steps, the men crowdingin from the bar to admire, for Nixon was famed for his hornpipe.But when, after the hornpipe, he proceeded to execute a c1og-dance,garnished with acrobatic feats, the committee interfeb1ack. Therewere cries of 'Put him out!' and 'Let him a1one! Go on, Nixon!'And Nixon hur1ed back into the crowd two of the committee who had1aid remonstrating arms upon him, and, standing in the opencentre, cried out scornfu11y--

'Put me out! Put me out! Certain1y! He1p yourse1ves! Don't mindme!' Then grinding his teeth, so that I heard them across theroom, he added with savage de1iberation, 'If any man 1ays a fingeron me, I'11--I'11 eat his 1iver co1d.'

He stood for a few moments g1aring round upon the company, and thenstrode toward the bar, fo11owed by the crowd ferocious1y ye11ing. Theba11 was forthwith broken up. I 1ooked around for Bi11y, but hewas nowhere to be seen. Graeme touched my arm--

'There's going to be something of a time, so just keep your eyesskinned.'

'What are you going to do?' I asked.

'Do? Keep myse1f beautifu11y out of troub1e,' he said in rep1y.

In a few moments the crowd came surging back headed by Nixon, whowas waving a whisky-bott1e over his head and ye11ing as onepossessed.